Most drivers stick to ordinary highways, but the world hides a handful of truly extraordinary routes. In this roundup of 10 unusual motorways, we’ll take you on a global tour of roads that sound, float, soar, and even house a stubborn homeowner. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Discover 10 Unusual Motorways That Defy Expectations
10 The Highway That Sings
Speeding is a leading cause of crashes, yet New Mexico’s Department of Transportation has turned the problem into a melody. Along Route 66, a set of rumble strips on the right‑hand side emits the patriotic tune “America the Beautiful” when a vehicle cruises at exactly 72 km/h (45 mph). The musical cue not only rewards drivers for obeying the limit but also keeps them alert, combating the fatigue that often leads to accidents.
Drivers hear the anthem only when they maintain the prescribed speed, turning the road itself into a giant instrument. By slowing down to enjoy the tune, motorists also gain a better view of the surrounding desert landscape, turning a safety measure into a scenic experience.
The project was funded by the National Geographic Channel as part of its series Crowd Control, which experiments with human behavior. The channel’s involvement turned a practical traffic solution into a headline‑grabbing, road‑side concert.
9 The Highway With A House In The Middle
Imagine refusing to move when a highway is planned right through your front yard. That’s exactly what 67‑year‑old Luo Baogen and his 65‑year‑old wife did in China. When authorities announced a new road to a railway station, they offered compensation that the couple deemed insufficient for rebuilding their home.
Undeterred, the government proceeded, constructing a four‑lane highway that wrapped around their five‑story residence, creating a literal “nail house” perched amid traffic. Chinese law protects private property from forced demolition, leading to several high‑profile standoffs like this one.
Eventually, Baogen accepted a payout of 260,000 yuan (about $41,000) and the house was demolished, allowing the road to continue unimpeded. The couple chose anonymity, weary of the media spotlight their unique situation attracted.
8 The Highway Through A Runway
Gibraltar’s cramped geography forces a remarkable compromise: Winston Churchill Avenue, the peninsula’s busiest road, literally runs across the Gibraltar International Airport’s runway. Every time a plane lands or takes off, massive barriers seal the highway, stopping all traffic until the aircraft passes.
The intertwining of road and runway creates safety challenges for both drivers and pilots. Litter or debris left on the runway can jeopardize aircraft, prompting strict warnings to keep the strip spotless.
With only about 30 flights a week, the disruption is manageable, but plans are afoot to tunnel the road beneath the runway. The proposed underground passage would eliminate the stop‑and‑go routine, boosting safety and traffic flow.
7 The Road With The Highest Speed Limit
If you crave velocity beyond the ordinary, the High Speed Test Track at Holloman Air Force Base offers a sign that reads “Mach 10.” This isn’t a speed‑trap; it’s an invitation to celebrate breaking the sound barrier, not a ticket‑issuing menace.
Built in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the track isn’t meant for casual cruising. It serves as a proving ground for rockets, parachutes, and seat‑belt technologies. In 1954, Captain John P. Stapp rode the Sonic Wind Rocket Sled 1 to a record‑breaking 1,017 km/h (632 mph), a feat still revered today.
The closest any other driver has come to the posted Mach 10 limit was Mach 8.5, achieved with a later rocket sled. The track remains a testament to human ambition and engineering daring.
6 The Atlantic Ocean Road
Norway’s Atlanterhavsveien, known as the Atlantic Ocean Road, stretches 8.3 km (5.2 mi) along a jagged coastline, linking islands via a series of bridges, causeways, and viaducts. Originally conceived as a single bridge, the project morphed into this iconic ribbon of road after six years of construction.
The build faced twelve hurricanes and a budget of 12 million Norwegian kroner (roughly $1.5 million). When it opened on July 7, 1989, it earned the title “Norwegian Construction of the Century” and quickly became a national tourist route.
Tourists and cyclists flock to its dramatic sea‑level views, and eight of its bridges even feature dedicated fishing landings, blending utility with pure scenic wonder.
5 The Tallest Bridge In The World
The Millau Viaduct, completed in 2004, towers 343 m (1,125 ft) above the Tarn valley, making it the world’s tallest bridge. French President Jacques Chirac praised it as a “marvel of art and architecture,” while architect Lord Norman Foster and engineer Michel Virlogeux oversaw its sleek design.
Spanning 2,460 m (8,070 ft), the bridge was built to ease traffic between Paris and Barcelona. Construction cost roughly €400 million ($440 million) and was financed privately by Eiffage, the firm behind the Eiffel Tower. Tolls collected until at least 2080 (or as early as 2044 if profitability so dictates) fund its upkeep.
On clear days, the viaduct appears to float among the clouds, dwarfing even the Eiffel Tower, and offering drivers an unforgettable high‑altitude crossing.
4 The Extraterrestrial Highway
Nevada State Highway 375, affectionately dubbed the “Extraterrestrial Highway,” stretches 158 km (98 mi) through the stark desert of the American Southwest. The moniker stems from a long‑standing tradition of UFO sightings reported by travelers along the route.
The highway’s fame skyrocketed after engineer Bob Lazar claimed on television in 1989 to have worked on alien spacecraft at nearby Area 51. The state capitalized on the buzz, officially naming the road during a ceremony attended by the lead actors of the movie Independence and Fox executives.
While UFO lore captivates the imagination, most sightings have mundane explanations. The road also skirts Nellis Air Force Base, a hub for secret aircraft and missile testing since the 1950s, adding a tangible layer of intrigue.
3 The Highway Without Vehicles
M‑185 winds around Mackinac Island, Michigan, and holds the distinction of being America’s only car‑free highway. Spanning 13.4 km (8.3 mi), it’s reserved for pedestrians, horses, carriages, and bicycles, a ban that dates back to the 1890s when locals protested the “mechanical monster” of early automobiles.
The island’s 1898 ordinance still stands, with only a few exceptions: a police Jeep assists elderly residents in winter, and snowmobiles are permitted for children over 12. Even electric bikes are barred to protect the island’s horses.
Occasional mishaps occur, typically tourists who ride while intoxicated, but overall the highway offers a tranquil, vehicle‑free experience reminiscent of a bygone era.
2 The Underwater Motorway
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge‑Tunnel, celebrated among modern engineering’s “seven wonders,” spans 37 km (23 mi) of water, linking Virginia’s mainland to the Eastern Shore via four artificial islands, two high‑level bridges, and two submerged tunnels each 1.6 km (1 mi) long.
Conceived in 1956 and championed by Lucius J. Kellam Jr., the project cost nearly $200 million. The U.S. Navy initially opposed a solid bridge, fearing it would block naval access, prompting the inclusion of the underwater tunnels to satisfy military concerns.
Extreme weather can close the bridge‑tunnel 15‑20 times a year, with wind gusts strong enough to lift cars off the road. These closures ensure safety amid the Bay’s notorious storms.
1 The Highest Highway
The Karakoram Highway climbs to an astonishing 5,000 m (16,000 ft), making it the world’s highest paved international road. Stretching 1,300 km (800 mi), it links Pakistan and China through the rugged Karakoram range, a joint venture completed in 1986 after a decade of grueling construction.
Every mile claimed a life, underscoring the perilous nature of the project. Today, the route remains hazardous, plagued by terrorist attacks, frequent landslides that can bury entire villages, and occasional encounters with elusive snow leopards.